OSCE Kosovo Verification Mission to be established

VIENNA, 25 October 1998 - The OSCE Permanent Council decided today to authorize "the immediate start-up deployment of the Kosovo Verification Mission (KVM)." The decision follows last night's UN Security Council Resolution which "endorses and supports" the agreement to establish the Mission.

According to the decision, the KVM will be established "in accordance with the mandate contained in the agreement" signed by the OSCE Chairman-in-Office and the Foreign Minister of the Federal Republic of Yugoslavia.

Under the decision, the KVM will be established for one year with the possibility of extensions.

The decision calls on OSCE States to contribute personnel and funding for the Mission and for the Secretary General to draft the budget for approval of the Permanent Council.